In July 2014, the Board of Trustees of the Federal Old-Age and Survivors Insurance and Federal Disability Insurance Trust Funds delivered its 2014 annual report to Congress. The report was intended to inform Congress about the current state of the Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance (“OASDI”) and the Disability Insurance (“DI”) programs, and projects forward to the best of its abilities the health of the programs in the future. These programs fall under the umbrella of Social Security.

The 2014 report continued in the same tone as the updates from 2013 and 2012 and vindicated the position of many policymakers and a majority of the American population. Chiefly: there is a problem facing Social Security. To be dramatic about it, although the language of the report is modest, a crisis is brewing.

At the end of 2013, the OASDI program was providing benefit payments to approximately 58 million people. This group consisted of 41 million retired workers, 6 million survivors of retired workers, 11 million disabled workers, and all of their dependents. Total expenditures for the year were $823 billion, a 4.7% increase from reported expenditures of $786 billion in 2013.

On the other side of the equation, total income — i.e. taxes collected that are appropriated for the OASDI program — was $855 billion, an increase of 1.8% from the $840 billion collected in 2013. That consisted of $752 billion in non-interest income, and $103 billion in interest earnings. In 2012, the program deficit was $169 billion, largely due to a temporary reduction in the Social Security payroll tax in 2011 and 2012 (the program ran a pre-interest deficit in 2011 as well). In 2014, with some more revenue coming in, the program was expected to run a pre-interest deficit of $80 billion, following a deficit of $79 billion in 2013.

Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

The future from here is not too hard to predict. The baby boomers are aging and life expectancy is increasing — there will be more people retired for longer in the future, and Social Security expenditures will increase at a faster rate than the program can be funded. In the short term, costs to fund the programs will continue to increase as more retirees begin collecting Social Security checks. Total costs will be 4.9% of GDP for 2014, increase to about 6.2% by 2035, decline to 6% by 2050, and then remain between 6% and 6.1% through 2088, according to the report’s estimates.

“Beginning in 2020,” reads the report, “annual cost exceeds total income, and therefore reserves begin to decline… The dollar level of the combined trust fund reserves declines beginning in 2020 until reserves are depleted in 2033.” With the reserves exhausted, the board of trustees predicts that the administration will only be able to pay about 77% of benefit costs beginning in 2033, and 72% of benefit costs in 2088.

Source: Board of Trustees 2014 report

The report explained why: “The projected OASDI annual cost rate increases from 13.95 percent of taxable payroll for 2014 to 17.09 percent for 2035 and to 18.19 percent for 2088.” In short, unless taxes are increased or spending is cut, the OASDI program will not be able to satisfy its obligations as costs grow exceed income. (Emphasis added.)

“For the combined OASI and DI Trust Funds to remain solvent throughout the 75-year projection period: (1) revenues would have to increase by an amount equivalent to an immediate and permanent payroll tax rate increase of 2.83 percentage points (from its current level of 12.40 percent to 15.23 percent; a relative increase of 22.8 percent); (2) scheduled benefits during the period would have to be reduced by an amount equivalent to an immediate and permanent reduction of 17.4 percent applied to all current and future beneficiaries, or 20.8 percent if the reductions were applied only to those who become initially eligible for benefits in 2013 or later; or (3) some combination of these approaches would have to be adopted.”

Paul J. Richards/AFP/Getty Images

The problem with both of those solutions, or even some combination of the two, is that they negatively impact one or both of the parties involved. Either those paying into the program must pay more, or those receiving must receive less (or both). Even at a glance it’s easy to see that increasing taxes or reducing payments will meet a tremendous amount of resistance.

Alternative proposals do exist, but to be clear there doesn’t appear to be a totally pain-free solution. Editing Social Security means editing society. Either young people assume a greater responsibility for the elderly and disabled, step up to the financial sacrifice, and pay more into the system — or the retired and disabled make do with less, which would be devastating given the current poverty rate among the elderly.

Or, as Donald Fuerst, the Senior Pension Fellow at the American Academy of Actuaries, proposed to Congress in 2013: increase the age of retirement. From his testimony:

“Social Security’s Old-Age and Survivors Insurance (OASI) challenges stem from our population demographics: Partly from lower birth rates and immigration levels, and in part from Americans living longer. Simply put, the longer someone lives, the more benefits Social Security must pay. In 1940, when the new Social Security Administration began paying monthly retired-worker benefits, the ‘full retirement age’ was 65. At that time, workers who survived to age 65 had a remaining life expectancy of 12.7 years for males and 14.7 years for females. In 2011, life expectancy at age 65 was 18.7 years for males and 20.7 years for females, an increase of six full years for males and females.”

Adjustments to the full retirement age have been made in the past but have failed to keep up with increases in average life expectancy. For example, between 1954 and 1960, the full retirement age was incrementally increased from 66 to 67. However, as Fuerst points out, “the 1983 schedule of increases in the full retirement age account for only two of the additional six years of life expectancy that we’re experiencing today.”

To make a long story short, Fuerst proposes increasing the full retirement age in increments up to as high as 70. “This would reduce the long-range actuarial deficit by about one-third. Further reductions of the long-range deficit would require a rate of increase more rapid than one month every two years.” (Fuerst’s full testimony is worth a read.)

Not surprisingly, the academy of which Fuerst is a member continues to push for a higher retirement age. The organization distributed a white paper last year that lays out the pending depletion of Social Security funds and why it believe raising the retirement age could be beneficial, including boosting Social Security and increasing the economic output. However, the report does also acknowledge that workers in physically demanding jobs have shorter-than-average lifespans and could face disproportionate benefit cuts if they were required to work longer or take benefits early with a higher penalty rate.

Though not all people might agree with the academy and Fuerst, most will realize that something should be decided sooner rather than later. Aside from everything else surrounding the issue, one of the biggest reasons is that the projections the board of trustees makes about raising taxes to remedy the solvency issue keep rising. In the 2013 report, proposed tax increases to fund the programs were almost a full percentage point lower across the board. “Addressing the program’s solvency now would allow Congress to have a fuller range of options to consider, many of which could be more modest in their adjustments, such as slow phase-ins over many years,” Fuerst said in his testimony. “Deferring efforts to address the solvency of the program to the next decade or beyond will more profoundly affect beneficiaries and the taxpaying public.”

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Read the original article from Wall St. Cheat Sheet]]>http://www.cheatsheet.com/business/can-this-plan-avert-a-national-retirement-disaster.html/feed/05 Ways That Drinking Coffee Can Be Good For Your Healthhttp://www.cheatsheet.com/life/6-surprising-health-benefits-of-coffee.html/
http://www.cheatsheet.com/life/6-surprising-health-benefits-of-coffee.html/#commentsMon, 30 Mar 2015 21:01:03 +0000Catherine Northingtonhttp://wallstcheatsheet.com/?p=440720According to the Harvard School of Public Health, the average American drinks three cups of coffee daily–and that doesn’t even include the delectable coffee-flavored baked goods a person can create.

With that in mind, the beverage’s impact on our overall public health is no small matter. Over the years, coffee has been blamed for every conceivable health issue, ranging from stunted growth to heart disease. Lately, however, research has been showing the beverage’s positive side. This caffeine-fueled substance is as popular as it is complex, so let’s dig deeper. Here are 5 health benefits that come along with drinking your daily coffee.

Source: iStock

Improved cognitive function and memory

A study by Michael Yassa, an assistant professor of psychological and brain sciences at Johns Hopkins, and his team of researchers concluded that caffeine has a positive effect on our ability to form long-term memories, reported the John Hopkins News Network.

The study, which was published in the journal Nature Neuroscience, found that patients who had consumed a coffee cup’s worth of caffeine the previous day performed better on complex memory tasks than those who had not. Caffeine consumers were especially adept at pattern separation memory exercises, exercises which reflect a deeper and subtler level of memory retention. Health reports that, in addition to sharpening your memory, caffeine keeps your brain awake and alert.

Boost your brain power by enjoying a cup at home, or at one of these 8 amazing coffee shops. If you do brew your own, don’t throw away those grounds! They have plenty of household uses.

Source: iStock

Lower cardiovascular risk

The Harvard School of Public Health says that the antioxidants in coffee have been shown to offer a degree of cardiovascular protection, adding that some studies have linked coffee to a possible decrease in the risk for heart disease. These same antioxidants can temper arterial inflammation, writes Eating Well. Moderate coffee drinkers (one to three cups per day) are even shown to have lower rates of stroke than non coffee drinkers.

Men’s Fitness notes that compounds in coffee also activate nitric acid, which widens blood vessels and leads to lower blood pressure among moderate coffee drinkers. Keep in mind that overconsumption of coffee — generally, more than five cups per day — could sabotage these positive effects.

Source: iStock

Decreased risk of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s

Health reports that moderate coffee consumption can also protect your brain cells from the deteriorative processes associated with Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s diseases. Research from the Harvard School of Public Health backs up these claims, noting that coffee intake has been shown to stifle, if not prevent, the impact of certain neurological diseases.

The New York Times reported on a study by the University of South Florida and the University of Miami. This investigation examined older adults who displayed mild cognitive impairment: When the same subjects were again studied two to four years later, participants with little to no caffeine in their bloodstreams were likelier to have progressed to the full-blown stages of Alzheimer’s disease than those whose blood indicated they had consumed a moderate level of coffee or caffeine products.

Source: iStock

Reduced risk for type 2 diabetes

The Harvard School of Public Health points out that moderate coffee consumption also reduces the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. This is in itself a lifesaver, but consider the fact that type 2 diabetes is also a major heart disease risk factor on top of that, and you’ll be more thankful than ever that you picked up your cup of coffee this morning.

Coffee’s caffeine content makes it a quick and natural metabolism booster. This helps speed up overall bodily function and can be a handy tool in facilitating weight loss and fat burning. Health reports that increasing your metabolism will also lower the risk of future weight-related problems — plus, it doesn’t hurt that black coffee itself has negligible caloric content, so don’t feel too guilty about enjoying a few cups with your breakfast!

Read the original article from Wall St. Cheat Sheet]]>http://www.cheatsheet.com/life/6-surprising-health-benefits-of-coffee.html/feed/0Top 10 NFL Players With the Most Touchdowns in a Single Seasonhttp://www.cheatsheet.com/sports/10-quarterbacks-with-most-touchdowns-peyton-manning-watch.html/
http://www.cheatsheet.com/sports/10-quarterbacks-with-most-touchdowns-peyton-manning-watch.html/#commentsMon, 30 Mar 2015 18:59:19 +0000Aabha Ratheehttp://wallstcheatsheet.com/?p=439603

Justin Edmonds/Getty Images

We’re one year out from Peyton Manning’s failed attempt to take it all against the Seattle Seahawks at Super Bowl XLVIII in New Jersey, but the star quarterback has also had an individually standout season in 2014. Manning claimed back his record for the most touchdown passes in a regular season from Tom Brady in 2013, and also threw for a league record total 5,477 yards.

Joe Montana once said there’s no thrill like throwing a touchdown pass. Taking that to heart, here’s a list of 10 quarterbacks with the most touchdown passes in a season in the history of the NFL.

Tom Pennington/Getty Images

9 (tie). Matthew Stafford (Detroit Lions)

41 Touchdown Passes
Season: 2011

Stafford shone in 2011 and added the honor of being only the fourth quarterback in NFL history and third in the 2011 season to throw for 5,000 passing yards in a season. The other two were Tom Brady and Drew Brees. Stafford then became the only quarterback in NFL history to pass for over 1,500 yards and 14 touchdowns over a four-game span. He was named a Pro Bowl alternate for the NFC and also the 2011 Pro Football Weekly Comeback Player of the Year, AP Comeback Player of the Year, and NFL Alumni Quarterback of the Year.

Jamie Squire/Getty Images

9 (tie). Kurt Warner (St. Louis Rams)

41 Touchdown Passes
Season: 1999

Warner, part of the Rams’ “The Greatest Show on Turf” offense, had a standout season in 1999, arriving to limelight straight from anonymity. He threw for a total of 4,353 yards and his 41 touchdown passes came with a completion rate of 65.1 percent. He also became the only NFL quarterback in history to throw three touchdown passes in each of his first three starts. Taking the Rams to a Super Bowl win against the Tennessee Titans, Warner set a Super Bowl record of attempting 45 passes without a single interception. He was named the league Most Valuable Player as well as the Super Bowl MVP that year.

Cliff McBride/Getty Images

8. Drew Brees (New Orleans Saints)

43 Touchdown Passes
Season: 2012

In Week 14 of the 2012 season, Brees threw for 354 yards, which gave him his seventh straight 4,000-yard passing season and beat Manning’s record of six straight seasons. His streak of consecutive games with at least one touchdown pass each ended at a whopping 54 in Week 13 against the Atlanta Falcons. In all, 2012 was Brees’s fifth straight season with at least 30 touchdown passes & 4,000 yards passing. Brees was then selected to the 2013 Pro Bowl as an injury replacement for Robert Griffin III.

Ben Hoskins/Getty Images

7. Dan Marino (Miami Dolphins)

44 Touchdown Passes
Season: 1986

Marino threw for 4,476 yards and scored 44 touchdown passes in 1986 on his way to becoming the first quarterback in NFL history to have three consecutive seasons of 30 or more touchdown passes. He threw his 100th career touchdown pass in the middle of this season, too, one in which he led the league in yards and touchdown passes. He was also named 1986 first team All-Pro.

Chris Graythen/Getty Images

6. Aaron Rodgers (Green Bay Packers)

45 Touchdown Passes
Season: 2011

The Packers left the playoff party too early in 2011, but Rodgers had one of the best seasons by a quarterback ever. He passed for 4,643 yards, scored a total of 45 touchdowns, and his passer rating of 122.5 is still the highest for a single season in NFL history. He also topped the league’s touchdown-to-interception ratio, touchdowns percentage, and yards per attempt. He was named the league’s Most Valuable Player award and finished second for the AP-Offensive Player of the Year award.

Joe Robbins/Getty Images

5. Drew Brees (New Orleans Saints)

46 Touchdown Passes
Season: 2011

Brees broke Dan Marino’s 27 year-old record for most passing yards in one season in 2011 on the way to setting a new Saints franchise record for passing touchdowns in a season. Brees would also remember the season for Week 17 against the Carolina Panthers, when he set 6 NFL records. However, Brees and the Saints lost the NFC Divisional Round Playoff game to the San Francisco 49ers.

Scott Halleran/Getty Images

4. Dan Marino (Miami Dolphins)

48 Touchdown Passes
Season: 1984

The year of Marino’s only Super Bowl appearance saw him breaking six NFL passing records, including those for touchdown passes. His record of 48 was alive for 20 years before Manning and then Brady surpassed him. He was also named the NFL’s Most Valuable Player, although the Dolphins lost the Super Bowl against San Francisco 49ers 38-16.

Justin Edmonds/Getty Images

3. Peyton Manning (Indianapolis Colts)

49 Touchdown Passes
Season: 2004

During the season, Manning threw for 4,557 yards and the 49 touchdown passes were a then record. He was also selected as the 2004 NFL Most Valuable Player and was named NFL Offensive Player of the Year. He also won the Best NFL Player at the ESPY Awards and the ESPY Award for Best Record-Breaking Performance. According to statistics site Football Outsiders, this was Manning’s best season ever by a quarterback, play-for-play.

Jim Rogash/Getty Images

2. Tom Brady (New England Patriots)

50 Touchdown Passes
Season: 2007

That this was a memorable season for Brady would be an understatement. When the quarterback, who led the Patriots to the first ever 16-0 regular season record in league history, made three touchdowns against Indianapolis, it was the ninth consecutive game in which he had done so and that broke Manning’s record of eight. He also finally broke Manning’s overall record of 49 touchdown passes, set in 2004, in the very last game of the season. He was named both the Most Valuable Player of the season and the Offensive Player of the Year.

Donald Miralle/Getty Images

1. Peyton Manning (Denver Broncos)

55 Touchdown Passes
Season: 2013

Manning still has the Super Bowl to deal with, but records came thick and fast for the quarterback in 2013. In his very first opening game of the season — against the Baltimore Ravens — Manning became one of only six players in NFL history to throw seven touchdown passes in one game. He then broke the record for most touchdown passes in the first three games of a season — throwing 12 — against the Oakland Raiders. Then came the main statistic for our list. On December 22, playing against the Houston Texans, Manning regained his record for most touchdown passes in a season from Brady after getting to 51. He eventually finished the regular season with 55 touchdown passes and also threw for a league record 5,477 yards.

Full of great characters, flesh-craving zombies, and tales of fighting for survival, it’s no surprise that AMC’s The Walking Dead has developed a huge cult following. But even with the crazy plot twists and edge of your seat excitement, there are still some things many fans may not know about this guilty pleasure. Here are five surprising facts about The Walking Dead.

1. Many of the Actors Hail From Abroad

The show may take place on American soil, but many of the actors are from overseas. Andrew Lincoln (Rick) and Lauren Cohan (Maggie) are both natives of the UK. Steven Yuen (Glen) was born in Seol, South Korea and was raised in the U.S. Finally, Danai Gurira, who plays Michonne, was born in the U.S. but was raised in Zimbabwe.

Roberto Gonzales/Universal Orlando via Getty Images

2. The “Walkers” Go to School

If you think all those extras are a little too good at playing zombies, it’s because they went to “school” for it. All the actors who are cast to play “walkers” are required to go to zombie school where they learn how to be the perfect “walker.” The actors then get graded on looks and performance before getting the green light to be on screen.

Source: AMC Networks

3. AMC Paid Homage to Breaking Bad With Blue Meth in Season 1

If you happened to notice that Merle’s bag of drugs contained some blue meth, you weren’t imagining things. In season 1, AMC gave a nod to another popular show on their network, Breaking Bad, by having Daryl hold up a bag of his brother’s drug stash full of Walter White’s “Blue Sky.” In addition, AMC put the the same Dodge Challenger that Glen stole in season 1 on Breaking Bad season 4 as the car that Walker purchased for Walt Jr.

Source: Image Comics

4. The Show Is Based on a Novel, But Doesn’t Hold True to It

The series The Walking Dead is based on the graphic novel by Robert Kirkman (who is also a producer of show.) But although the characters’ names and setting are the same, some of the plot points on the show are different — especially when it comes to how and when people die. Another big difference from the comic? There are no Dixon brothers — a huge disappointment for anyone who is a fan of Daryl.

Kevin Winter/Getty Images

5. “Zombie” Is Never Mentioned Once

Even though the show is about zombies, the word “zombie” is never mentioned once. Instead, the undead are referred to as “walkers.” The show’s creators have said they shy away from using the word zombie to create a world within the series where characters are thrown into a situation they are not familiar with. Since they have never seen or heard of zombies before, they would naturally call them something else. In addition, the show has never addressed the cause of the “zombie virus” outbreak and doesn’t plan to.

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Read the original article from Wall St. Cheat Sheet]]>http://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/5-surprising-facts-about-the-walking-dead.html/feed/0The 5 Best and Worst Fast Food Meals to Feed Your Kidshttp://www.cheatsheet.com/life/5-worst-kids-meals-and-5-alternatives-when-eating-out.html/
http://www.cheatsheet.com/life/5-worst-kids-meals-and-5-alternatives-when-eating-out.html/#commentsSat, 28 Mar 2015 14:51:23 +0000Catherine Northingtonhttp://wallstcheatsheet.com/?p=442043When you think of healthy dining choices for your children, chances are that fast food isn’t the first thing that comes to mind — there are countless nutritional pitfalls to avoid on fast food kids’ menus. In recent years, however, some of the more popular fast food chains have begun providing healthier alternatives to the classic burger-and-fries combo. In fact, according to the Yale Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity, the number of possible kids’ meal combinations available at these restaurants has increased 54 percent between 2010 and 2013.

With water and juice, fruits, and leaner cuts of meat on the menu, fast food restaurants now allow children to enjoy their food without the same degree of health risk. That said, fast food chains still have a long way to go: Many options remain perilously high in calories and fat, and it’s important to make the correct decisions when it comes time to eat.

Here are the very best and worst in kids’ nutritional options from America’s 5 favorite fast food chains.

David Paul Morris/Getty Images

McDonald’s

McDonald’s devotes an entire section of its website to nutritional choices, specifically, nutritional choices for children. According to Jeff Stratton, president of McDonald’s USA, McDonald’s Happy Meals have automatically included apple slices since March 2012, a change that has resulted in 20 percent fewer calories in all of the most popular Happy Meal choices.

Opting for the four-piece white meat nuggets, apple slices, low-fat strawberry yogurt, and apple juice will put your child’s meal at a reasonable 335 calories and 12.5 grams of fat — as fast food aficionados know, you could do much more damage to your system with this menu. Take, for example, a cheeseburger Happy Meal with a side of yogurt and a chocolate milk: this selection will total out at 580 calories and 16.5 grams of fat.

Spencer Platt/Getty Images

Wendy’s

A standard Wendy’s Kids Meal with a cheeseburger, fries, and signature Frostie contains 710 calories and 29 grams of fat, making it less than an advisably nutritional meal for your child.

Cut out unnecessary calories and fat by selecting from the fast food chain’s updated, fresher, and more heart-healthy menu: A Kids Meal consisting of chicken nuggets, apple slices, and water has only 220 calories and 12 grams of fat. Even opting for just one of the healthier sides or mains will save your child around 200 calories, according to the Wendy’s website.

Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

KFC

Like most of the restaurants on this list, Kentucky Fried Chicken isn’t known for its health food, but the selection has widened considerably over the past decade. To satisfy your child’s appetite without spoiling his or her balanced diet, order a KFC Li’l Bucket, consisting of four Original Recipe chicken bites, a side of green beans, a side of apple sauce, and a Capri sun to drink — all for a total of 245 calories and 6 grams of fat, according to the KFC website. Even splurging on mashed potatoes instead of green beans brings the total to just 310 calories and 9 grams of fat.

Consider these options over a Li’l Bucket with a Chicken Little Sandwich, macaroni, applesauce, and 2 percent milk, which totals out at 650 calories and 26 grams of fat.

Anne Christine Poujoulat/AFP/Getty Images

Burger King

In an interesting contrast to McDonald’s, Burger King has eliminated French fries entirely from the children’s menu section of its website. Just like at McDonald’s, they are available upon request, though they do come at a fatty cost.

Next time you’re at Burger King looking for one of the healthier choices off the children’s menu, try a four-piece chicken nugget BK Meal with apple slices and Capri Sun. This combination will round out to 300 calories and 11 grams of fat. Meanwhile, a cheeseburger BK Meal with Satisfries and chocolate milk will come in at 620 calories and 22.5 grams of fat, according to the Burger King website.

Source: Facebook.com/Arbys

Arby’s

Although Arby’s is known and loved for its curly fries and roast beef, the restaurant has also jumped on the healthy choices bandwagon by adding apple sauce and fruit juice choices to its kids menu in recent years.

Here, your child can enjoy the relatively healthy option of a Jr. Roast Beef Sandwich, an apple sauce, and a Capri Sun fruit juice together for just 350 calories and 8 total grams of fat. This is a much more health-conscious option than, say, an order of Prime Cut Chicken Tenders with a side of curly fries and a chocolate milk — a meal consisting of 620 calories and a whopping 26.5 grams of fat. That’s more than half of your child’s recommended daily fat intake, according to Livestrong.

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Read the original article from Wall St. Cheat Sheet]]>http://www.cheatsheet.com/life/5-worst-kids-meals-and-5-alternatives-when-eating-out.html/feed/07 Surprisingly Nutritious Foods That You Thought Were Unhealthyhttp://www.cheatsheet.com/life/more-than-salads-6-healthy-foods-that-may-surprise-you.html/
http://www.cheatsheet.com/life/more-than-salads-6-healthy-foods-that-may-surprise-you.html/#commentsFri, 27 Mar 2015 18:33:18 +0000Kirsten Klahnhttp://wallstcheatsheet.com/?p=438083Healthy eating can often seem pretty overwhelming. There is an endless array of different diets and their accompanying rules, and it can be hard to determine what you should eat and what you should avoid. Many food fanatics know that a diet filled with fruits, veggies, and whole grains is the key to success, but you don’t need to limit yourself to just those foods. There are many foods that have a reputation for being unhealthy that actually provide you with a surprising number of vitamins, nutrients, and antioxidants. Whether you want to lose weight or prepare more nutritious meals, eating these foods can provide you with some wonderful benefits. Here’s a list of 7 “unhealthy” foods that are secretly nutritious.

Source: iStock

Bacon

Bacon for breakfast is a tasty treat, but it’s gotten a bad reputation for being packed with salt and saturated fat. While that is true, bacon isn’t all bad news. Rachel Begun, a food and nutrition consultant, told Health that when used as a garnish, it can cause you to eat more healthy foods. “It’s got such a salty, smoky flavor that you can use small amounts to jazz up veggies — in fact, a little bacon can make you love veggies more,” she said.

Bacon is also high in protein, with one 3-ounce serving containing 20 grams of protein, according to SFGate. That same serving size also provides 1 microgram, or 42 percent of your daily recommended intake, of vitamin B12. This helps you metabolize fats and protein, plays a role in brain function, and protects you from nerve damage. If you’re going to eat bacon, follow Health’s advice and use it as an ingredient in a side dish or salad. It’s a good way to make sure you aren’t eating too much of it.

Source: iStock

Potatoes

Potatoes often make the foods-to-avoid list. If you’ve still got the mindset that white potatoes are empty carbs with no nutritional benefits, it may be time to change the way you view them. A potato is filled with nutrients like vitamins C and B-6, in addition to folate and fiber, according to SparkPeople. It also is packed with antioxidants, which help fight free radicals; one potato has 20 percent of your recommended daily amount of potassium, according to Best Health.

The trick to keeping potatoes healthy is to avoid add-ons, such as sour cream and cheese, and practice portion control. If you’ve got a potato that takes up half of your plate, only eat one-third or half of it. Instead of using fatty foods to add more flavor, season it with garlic, herbs, and pepper, and bake it in the oven, SparkPeople suggests.

Source: iStock

Eggs

How many times have you heard that eating eggs, particularly the yokes, will clog your arteries and likely cause a heart attack, stroke, or diabetes? This is not the case at all. In fact, a Salon article says that eggs don’t contribute to heart disease or stroke, particularly in healthy people. Eggs do, however, help to raise your HDL (good) cholesterol and are high in iron, protein, and vitamins A and D.

When you eat eggs, you’re also getting a healthy dose of two antioxidants, lutein and zeaxanthine, which help to protect your eyes against age-related disorders. As with everything, practice moderation when it comes to eating eggs. One to two eggs each day is perfectly fine, according to News.com.au. Try to pick eggs that are from free-range chickens and stay away from those that come from antibiotics-riddled, factory-farmed chickens.

Source: iStock

Sourdough bread

For years, we’ve been told that whole-wheat must be our bread of choice. But in actuality, sourdough bread is healthier than whole wheat, Rachel Beller, author of Eat to Lose, Eat to Win, told Health. Sourdough is unlike any other type of bread, because it’s made with a lactic acid starter that undergoes fermentation, thus altering the bread’s starches. That process helps prevent your blood sugar from spiking because it releases its glucose more slowly into the bloodstream, reports Health.

Additionally, SFGate explains that it’s low in fat, contains no trans fats or cholesterol, and has a significant number of vitamins and minerals, including selenium, folate, thiamin, and manganese. A substantial selenium intake can decrease your risk of heart disease, rheumatoid arthritis, infections, and cancer, while folate aids in energy metabolism. Thiamine helps your body metabolize proteins, carbohydrates, and fat, and SFGate writes that manganese helps the body regulate blood sugar levels and promotes the absorption of calcium. There’s no need to pass on the bread basket at dinner, as long as it’s sourdough.

Source: iStock

Coffee

Moderate coffee consumption can do a whole lot of good for your body. Coffee drinkers are less likely to have type 2 diabetes, Parkinson’s disease, and dementia, in addition to being linked to fewer cases of certain cancers, heart rhythm problems, and strokes, according to WebMD. “There is certainly much more good news than bad news, in terms of coffee and health,” Frank Hu, a nutrition and epidemiology professor at the Harvard School of Public Health, told WebMD.

Of course, most of us have also experienced what coffee can do if you consume too much too fast. Livestrong details the impacts of too much caffeine, which include nervousness, jitteriness, irritability, stress, and agitation. The lesson here? Don’t go overboard with the antioxidant-packed beverage. Livestrong suggests keeping your caffeine intake to less than 200 milligrams a day, the equivalent of about two cups of regular coffee.

Source: iStock

Whole milk and yogurt

Years ago, a diet trend popped up that claimed full-fat foods were responsible for America’s obesity epidemic. However, an article in JAMA Pediatrics says that reduced-fat milk is high in sugar and is actually what’s contributing to the country’s obesity. Furthermore, recent research shows that children who consume skim milk are more likely to be more overweight than those who drink it whole, writes Salon.

The same goes for yogurt. According to Health, research shows that normal-weight women who consume whole-milk dairy products are less likely to gain weight with age. The full-fat version of yogurt also has a better flavor and will fill you up faster. If you’re ready to break free of the low-fat stigma, full-fat dairy products are a great way to do it — just remember to keep an eye on your portions. One cup of full-fat plain yogurt has 110 calories and 5 grams of saturated fat.

Source: iStock

Dark chocolate

Contrary to popular belief, delicious dark chocolate is bursting with antioxidants and nutrients. WebMD explains that it has flavonoids similar to those found in fruits, veggies, tea, and red wine. In fact, when you sit down to savor a heavenly dark chocolate bar, it can improve your blood vessel flow and can reduce your risk of diabetes by improving your blood sugar and insulin sensitivity. A small amount of the heavenly sweet treat can also impact your blood pressure.

“Moderate regular dosages of flavanol-rich cocoa products such as dark chocolate may be part of a comprehensive lifestyle plan to optimizing blood pressure,” Karin Ried, the research director of the National Institute of Integrative Medicine, told CNN. When you’re choosing chocolate, aim for it to have a high percentage of cocoa — at least 70 percent — per WebMD. And remember, moderation is key. Dark chocolate still contains fat and sugar, meaning overindulging could quickly void its health benefits. Aim for small portions of the decadent dessert.

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Read the original article from Wall St. Cheat Sheet]]>http://www.cheatsheet.com/life/more-than-salads-6-healthy-foods-that-may-surprise-you.html/feed/06 of the Biggest NFL Draft Busts of All Timehttp://www.cheatsheet.com/sports/6-of-the-biggest-nfl-draft-busts.html/
http://www.cheatsheet.com/sports/6-of-the-biggest-nfl-draft-busts.html/#commentsMon, 23 Mar 2015 18:43:08 +0000David Notohttp://wallstcheatsheet.com/?p=447082

Source: Joe Robbins/Getty Images

Immediately after this year’s Super Bowl, all 32 National Football League teams will start preparations for the 2014-2015 season. Some players on current rosters will become free agents while others will retire, giving general managers and coaches an idea of what the positions of need will be in the upcoming draft in May. Scouts have been closely following the careers of collegiate players in hopes of finding the next Adrian Petersons, Calvin Johnsons, and Tom Bradys of the world.

Although drafting quality athletes with the right physical and mental tools to “make it” in the pros is always a big challenge, sports analysts do their best to project the most valuable college players who could likely become big stars. Sometimes, they’re right; other times, they completely miss the mark. Teams that covet their first-round pick can often come away with a complete dud.

Here are six of the biggest draft busts in recent NFL history.

Source: Otto Gruele Jr./Getty Images

6. Aaron Curry

In the 2009 draft, the Seattle Seahawks thought they had their dominant linebacker of the future in Aaron Curry. They took him fourth overall out of Wake Forest and paid him $34 million guaranteed, which is the most for a non-quarterback in NFL history. But only two years later, he was traded to the Oakland Raiders for a seventh-round pick in the 2012 draft. After being waived by the Raiders, Curry signed a one-year deal with the New York Giants in 2013. He was cut in training camp and decided to retire from professional football altogether in August of that year.

David Maxwell/Getty Images

5. Tim Couch

With great success at the college level for the University of Kentucky, quarterback Tim Couch was a No. 1 overall selection for the Cleveland Browns in the 1999 NFL draft. However, he only had a five-year career that was full of injuries — and when he actually played, he was terribly inaccurate. Couch finished with 64 touchdowns and an awful 67 interceptions. He wound up being released after the 2003 season. There were a few attempts to make a comeback, but they were all unsuccessful. In 2007, Couch solidified his failed attempt at an NFL career, testing positive for human growth hormone and steroids.

Mike Powell/Getty Images

4. Tony Mandarich

Billed as “The Incredible Bulk” because of his amazing college career at Michigan State, offensive lineman Tony Mandarich was projected to be a monster in the NFL. The Green Bay Packers took him as the No. 2 pick in the 1989 draft, but he never lived up to those expectations. Though Mandarich held out for a big rookie contract to become the first O-lineman to make a seven-figure salary per season, he was a liability on the field and got burned by defenses on a weekly basis. His career with the Packers only lasted two seasons before he was cut. To make matters worse, he became addicted to painkillers and had to enter rehab. Mandarich actually returned to the NFL for a decent three-year stint with the Indianapolis Colts but never became the dominant force he was supposed to be.

Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images

3. Charles Rogers

During the tenure of former player Matt Millen as president and CEO of the Detroit Lions in the 2000s, there were many bad drafts. But the one that sticks out in most peoples’ minds is in 2003, when the team picked Michigan State wide receiver Charles Rogers second overall. Expectations were high after he won the Biletnikoff Award for being the country’s best WR, and sports writers were even comparing him to future Hall of Famers like Randy Moss. But in his first two seasons, Rogers broke his collarbone twice and only played six games. In 2005, he was suspended following a third violation of the NFL’s drug policy. This led to his eventual outright release.

Eza Shaw/Getty Images

2. Jamarcus Russell

Al Davis, the late owner of the Oakland Raiders, was known for drafting some of the worst busts in recent history. Quarterback Jamarcus Russell could be the biggest. After an unbelievable Sugar Bowl performance with the LSU Tigers as well as his ability to throw a football 70 yards from his knees, Davis was convinced he found his franchise QB in Russell. But boy, was he wrong. Subsequent to becoming the first overall selection of the 2007 draft, it was apparent that Russell couldn’t be coached and was a lazy player. His career only lasted only three seasons with 18 TDs, 23 INTs, and 22 fumbles. After he left the game, Russell was arrested for possession of codeine and ballooned up to 308 pounds. He tried to make a comeback before the 2014 season, but was never signed by any team.

Scott Halleran/Getty Images

1. Ryan Leaf

As one of the most coveted players coming out of college in 1998, Ryan Leaf was projected by many to be a future Hall of Famer. The San Diego Chargers agreed with the assessment, taking the Washington State quarterback second overall in the draft. But he just didn’t pan out from the start. Leaf’s passion for the game was always in question, and it showed on the field.

In just a four-year span, he played for four different teams and finished with a horrible 14/36 TD-to-INT ratio and a QB rating of 50. Following his quick retirement, Leaf became a quarterback coach at West Texas A&M University in 2006, but his life spiraled out of control with illegal drug issues and other brushes with the law. He’s currently serving a seven-year sentence in state prison stemming from burglary and drug possession charges in Montana.

Nearly all sports, when played at the highest level, are pursuits for the young. Professional careers overlap with athletic peaks, which tend to occur early, and the aging process will eventually force everyone, no matter their skill level or determination, to retire. That said, retirement comes at different times for everyone, and for every Rashard Mendenhall, who retired at 26 to travel the world and write, there’s a Brett Favre, who, well, couldn’t stay gone.

The game of football isn’t easy for anyone, and it’s particularly difficult for quarterbacks, who spend the start of every possession staring down 11 guys who are being paid to take him off his feet with extreme prejudice. When we look at the already injury-riddled careers of guys like Sam Bradford and Robert Griffin III, the idea that anyone could play as long as someone like Favre, who retired, for the last time, at 41, seems absurd. And that’s in the modern-day NFL, which is routinely dressed down as “touch football” or “flag football” by those in the fandom who don’t see why making a game safer is probably a good thing.

What’s really wild about Favre is that he doesn’t even come close to the oldest quarterbacks ever to suit up in the NFL. Using information gathered by the Pro Football Hall of Fame, here are the seven oldest quarterbacks in league history.

Jeff Zelevansky/Getty Images

7. Mark Brunell

Playing from 1994 all the way until 2007, Brunell originally got his start with the Green Bay Packers, being taken in the fifth round of the 1993 draft, but would spend the longest stint of his 17-season career with Jacksonville, holding down the G spot with the Jags from ’95 all the way to 2004, when he decamped to join the Redskins. Last playing for the Jets in 2011, the three-time Pro Bowler wound up leading the league in passing once, in 1996, and managed to lead the league in sacks twice, in ’96 and 2001. He retired at 41.

Source: the Vintage Football Card Gallery

6. Earl Morrall

When he became a member of the 1972 Miami Dolphins, the only team to ever go undefeated from start to finish over a regular season and an entire playoff in NFL history, quarterback Earl Morall had already been a professional football player for 17 seasons — drafted at 22, he was 38 when the Dolphins went on their historic run — and he would go on to play all the way through 1976, retiring at 42 and promptly finding a gig at the University of Miami.

Rick Stewart/Getty Images

5. Doug Flutie

Prowling pro football sidelines from 1986 to 2005, Flutie spent the early part of his quarterbacking career bouncing from franchise to franchise before finally getting a starting shot with the New England Patriots — whereupon he promptly disappeared into the icy wilderness of the Canadian football league for a decade, returning to the NFL in 1998 to head up the signal calling for the Buffalo Bills and finally retiring with the same Patriots that first gave him the starting QB nod. He was 43 when he retired.

Streeter Lecka/Getty Images

4. Vinny Testaverde

Everyone figured that Vinny Testaverde was going to have some kind of noteworthy NFL career after winning the Heisman and being drafted first overall in the 1987 NFL Draft, but we don’t know how many people would have bet on either his underwhelming CV for his time in the NFL or the length of his career. In spite of his apparent mediocrity, Vinny T wound up spending 21 years in the NFL and was a professional football player until the age of 44.

Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images

3. Warren Moon

A onetime record holder for the most passing touchdowns in NFL history, Warren Moon was able to parlay his physical gifts and throwing acumen into a career that spanned from 1983 to the year 2000, setting records and points of achievement that raise so many questions about what might have been — coming out of college in 1978, Moon saw zero interest coming from the NFL and spent the first five years of his post-collegiate career in the Canadian Football League. Imagine what could have happened if Moon, who retired at 44, was able to spend those seasons in the NFL.

Andy Lyons/Getty Images

2. Steve DeBerg

So good that Peyton Manning has allegedly studied his film, Steve DeBerg played in the NFL for two decades but only accumulated 140 starts — which is why he’s known as a career backup, or, to steal a commonly used phrase from music and the arts, a quarterback’s quarterback. Picked up by Dallas in the 10th round, DeBerg spent time with the 49ers, the Chiefs, and Tampa Bay before ending his career in Atlanta. That photograph up there? He’s 44 years old in that picture.

Source: Courtesy of the Vintage Football Card Gallery

1. George Blanda

When it comes to quarterbacks in the NFL, there’s young, there’s Peyton Manning old, there’s Brett Favre old, and then there’s George Blanda. Blanda first played a professional football game in 1949 and wouldn’t retire until 1975 — at 48 — as the league’s leading scorer. He is also the only quarterback on this list to also kick field goals in professional NFL games, even if most of his numbers are pre-merger.

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Read the original article from Wall St. Cheat Sheet]]>http://www.cheatsheet.com/sports/7-oldest-nfl-quarterbacks-of-all-time.html/feed/05 Fad Diets That Health Experts Suggest You Avoidhttp://www.cheatsheet.com/life/5-diet-fads-to-stay-away-from.html/
http://www.cheatsheet.com/life/5-diet-fads-to-stay-away-from.html/#commentsSun, 22 Mar 2015 20:27:06 +0000Kirsten Klahnhttp://wallstcheatsheet.com/?p=446489Fad diets vow to help you shed pounds quickly and effortlessly. “Most fad diets go something like this: Take a few foods, give them ‘magic’ power, and set a plan to convince people that eating this way and only this way will promote weight loss,” Alexandra Caspero, a nutritionist, told Health. While quick-fix diets may sound tempting, don’t fall prey to their empty promises! These five diets consist of strict rules, poor long-term results, and in some cases, nutritional deficiencies.

Source: iStock

1. The Five-Bite Diet

Created by Dr. Alwin Lewis, the Five-Bite Diet encourages you to lose weight by eating less. A Demand Media article via SFGate explains that instead of counting calories, diet participants count bites. This quick-fix weight-loss plan requires you to skip breakfast and then eat five bites of whatever food you’d like at lunch and dinner, according to the Demand Media article. As long as your drinks are calorie-free, you can have as many beverages as you’d like.

Even if you choose high-calorie foods and take large bites, the Dr. Oz Blog notes that it will probably amount to about 800 calories a day, which is less than half of the daily amount that’s generally recommended. And while the diet encourages you to take a daily multivitamin, the Dr. Oz Blog warns that this diet won’t come close to providing you with the key vitamins, minerals, and nutrients your body needs. Livestrong states that low-calorie diets such as this one can eventually cause deficiencies that lead to anemia, bone loss, decreased cognitive function, and low energy.

Source: iStock

2. The Raw Food Diet

The Raw Food Diet requires you to eat raw fruits, vegetables, and grains. The idea behind this diet is that heating food destroys its nutrients and natural enzymes, WebMD explains. Since raw foods are often low in calories, fat, and sodium, WebMD acknowledges that there’s a good chance you’ll lose weight and consume several important nutrients while following this diet. But there are plenty of negative drawbacks that come along with the Raw Food Diet. First, WebMD writes that there are also several nutrients — including protein, iron, calcium, and minerals — that you won’t get enough of when following this plan.

Furthermore, Health reports that in some cases, it’s better for you to cook your vegetables; the cooking process kills bacteria and actually enhances some foods’ nutrients. This diet can also be hard on your digestive system. Mind Body Green explains that plants and vegetables have cellulose and fibrous structures, which are hard for our stomachs to break down. This can eventually cause bloating, indigestion, constipation, malnutrition, and a lowered immune system. Because this diet is so strict, it will be difficult — and expensive — to stick with this plan.

Source: iStock

3. The Baby Food Diet

There’s a reason babies and grown-ups eat differently: They both have different nutrient requirements, meaning the Baby Food Diet is extremely impractical for adults. Shape states that the diet involves replacing your typical breakfast and lunch foods with about 14 jars of baby food, which range from 25 to 75 calories each, and then eating a healthy, sensible dinner. There are several concerns that come along with this diet. Everyday Health notes that women should aim for about 25 grams of fiber a day, which is extremely hard to obtain when eating baby food.

The National Fiber Council warns that if you don’t get enough fiber, you may experience problems with irregular digestion. It could also cause you to begin binge-eating. “The lack of fiber, fat, and protein will cause the food to be digested quickly, leaving the person hungry in an hour or two and susceptible to binging later. Also, baby food is very bland and there’s minimal chewing involved, so a person would be left feeling unsatisfied and craving something else,” Dariella Gaete, RD and owner of Eat Freely Nutrition Counseling and Consulting, told Everyday Health.

Source: iStock

4. The Blood Type Diet

The Blood Type Diet, developed by Dr. Peter d’Adamo, a naturopathic physician, centers around the premise that the foods you eat react with your blood type. The diet states that if your blood type is A, you should follow a mainly vegetarian diet; O’s should stick with meats and try to avoid grains; B’s can eat a variety of foods; and an AB blood type allows you to eat any foods allowed on the type A and type B diets, according to the NYU Langone Medical Center. An Oprah article warns that following this diet could deprive you of vital nutrients.

For example, those with an O blood type must avoid dairy and grains, which are essential for heart health and strong bones. Weight Loss Resources adds that this diet’s strict rules can make mealtime preparation challenging and time-consuming. Finally, WebMD states that it’s hard to tell whether this diet will promote any sort of weight loss, both in the short- and long-term. This is because no studies have been done that directly compare weight loss and health in people who were on the diet against those who weren’t.

Source: iStock

5. The Master Cleanse/Lemonade Diet

A liquid diet that claims to detoxify the body and promote weight loss, the Master Cleanse Diet is meant to be followed over a three- to 10-day period, explains Healthline. There are three phases: ease in, the lemonade diet, and ease out. The lemonade phase is the main component of this diet. According to Healthline, during this phase, your only food is a special lemonade drink that you can have between six and 12 times a day.

Health states that the lemonade beverage consists of lemon juice, maple syrup, and cayenne pepper, resulting in a diuretic drink that will cause you to shed water weight. However, Health adds that once you begin eating solid foods, the water weight will return fairly quickly. Healthline warns that you won’t get enough calories when following this diet — it only allows you to consume between 600 and 1,200 calories a day, well beneath the recommended daily amount. Because of the lack of nutrients and calories, those following this diet may experience fatigue, nausea, dizziness, and dehydration, according to Health.

Read the original article from Wall St. Cheat Sheet]]>http://www.cheatsheet.com/life/5-diet-fads-to-stay-away-from.html/feed/010 of the Deadliest Cars in Americahttp://www.cheatsheet.com/automobiles/the-10-deadliest-vehicles-on-the-road.html/
http://www.cheatsheet.com/automobiles/the-10-deadliest-vehicles-on-the-road.html/#commentsSun, 22 Mar 2015 20:00:10 +0000Eric Schaalhttp://wallstcheatsheet.com/?p=443624It takes years for the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) to compile and organize the statistics for crash deaths and the vehicles in which drivers met their end. However, the latest report tracked model-year automobiles up to 2008, allowing the IIHS to deliver stats that included traffic accident data through 2009 .

The auto safety agency ran the numbers on all vehicles with 100,000 registrations or more between 2006 and 2009, counting only the deaths of the driver (not passengers) in their statistics. In the end, the IIHS calculated a ratio of “driver death per million registered vehicles.” Needless to say, drivers shopping for used vehicles more than four years old would be advised to check the list, which we’ve laid out for your perusal below.

Here are the 10 vehicles that involved the highest number of deaths per million registrations.

Source: Stan Honda/AFP/Getty Images

10. Chevy Colorado Extended Cab

While smaller cars were behind most recorded driver fatalities, the Chevy Colorado Extended Cab 2WD pickup from GM was one of the larger vehicles to make the top 10. In total, 2005-2008 model Colorados recorded 93 deaths per million registrations. The majority of deaths (54 per million) were the result of crashes involving no other vehicle.

Source: Nissan

9. Nissan Versa Sedan

The four-door Nissan Versa tied for eighth and ninth place on the list with 96 driver deaths per million registrations for 2005-2008 models. As with the Colorado, the majority of fatalities resulted from single-vehicle crashes (60 per million), which suggests the car is difficult to control when the driver encounters dangerous situations.

Source: Hyundai

8. Hyundai Tiburon

The Hyundai Tiburon from model years 2005 through 2008 features recorded 96 fatalities per million registrations, matching the total of the Nissan Versa during the testing period. Some 63 deaths per million registrations involved single-vehicle crashes for drivers of the two-door Tiburon, which in Spanish means “shark.”

Source: GM

7. Chevrolet Malibu

The 2005 through 2008 Chevy Malibu and Malibu Classic didn’t exactly set benchmarks for style and performance, and saw themselves relegated to vehicle fleets. The IIHS says this may have factored into the high death rate among drivers, which totaled an alarming 99 per million registrations of the four-door sedan. Out of that group, 63 per million registrations involved multiple-vehicle accidents, a reversal of the number posted by the Versa and Tiburon.

Source: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

6. Kia Spectra Wagon

The Kia Spectra wagon from model years 2005 through 2008 put Hyundai’s corporate cousin on this list. For every million registrations, 102 drivers perished behind the wheel of a Spectra wagon — the majority, at 63 per million registrations, were involved in multiple-car crashes.

Source: Nissan

5. Nissan Titan Extended Cab

The Nissan Titan 2WD extended cab pickup from models years 2005 through 2008 was something of a menace on U.S. roads for the four years in question. For every million registrations of the vehicle, 111 drivers met their deaths behind the wheel of a Titan, with a wide majority (77 per million registrations) occurring in single-vehicle crashes.

Source: David McNew/Getty Images

4. Chevy Cobalt

With more recent notoriety for its role in GM’s huge ignition switch scandal, the Cobalt proved to be one of the deadliest vehicles on the road. The four-door Cobalt sedan from model years 2005 through 2008 had a death rate of 117 drivers per million registrations. Like the Malibu, the Cobalt made its way to plenty of rental fleets, a factor the IIHS says contributes to the exceptionally high number of fatalities.

Source: Dibyangshu Sarkar/Getty Images

3. Chevy Aveo

The fourth Chevrolet in the top 10 deadliest vehicles is the four-door Chevy Aveo. Studying the crashes of model years 2005 through 2008, the IIHS determined there were 119 driver deaths per million car registrations, split evenly between multiple-vehicle crashes and single-vehicle accidents. The study showed that smaller cars were the most dangerous for drivers, with the exception of poorly designed pickups. SUVs composed the safest class of all.

Source: Nissan

2. Nissan Titan Crew Cab

No matter what type of cab drivers of the Nissan Titan selected, they risked facing one of the highest fatality rates among vehicles bearing the badges from the model years 2005 through 2008. The Nissan Titan crew cab 2WD pickup was involved in 126 driver deaths per million vehicles during the four years of analysis, with 94 per million registrations occurring in single-vehicle crashes.

Source: Nissan

1. Nissan 350Z

Topping the list of deadliest cars on the road is another Nissan: the two-door 350Z from model years 2005 to 2008. IIHS recorded 143 deaths per million registrations for Nissan 350Z drivers during the study period, with 90 deaths per million registrations occurring in single-vehicle crashes.

Chevrolet and Nissan were producing the vehicles involving the highest ratio of driver deaths for a span of four years, with Hyundai and Kia making up the balance. In the course of used car shopping, check the IIHS stats to ensure the safety record of any vehicle.